42 • THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



way, we arrived soon after 7 p.m., and were hospitably entertained 

 at tea by the captain and crew of the Fireflij, thus pleasantly 

 winding up a most enjoyable day. Much of the pleasure of the 

 day's outing is attributable to the unselfish attention of the 

 respective owners of the steamer and yacht, Messrs. E. F. Cooke 

 and C. J. Cottell, who so willingly again placed their vessels at 

 our disposal. We have now had the use of the Firefly on five 

 occasions, and the yacht Starlight twice. 



Jos. Gabriel. 



NOTES ON A GIPPSLAND TRIP. 



By Rev. E. Halford Hennell. 

 (Read he/ore Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th Api-il, 1895. J 

 Our party, consisting of Rev. A. Maxwell, his son, my brother, 

 and myself, having decided on a "camping-out expedition" in 

 Gippsland for the various purposes of shooting, fishing, reptile 

 and insect hunting, collecting fossils, &c,, left Melbourne by an 

 early train for Sale on ist January last, with the necessary luggage, 

 made up of tents, guns, ammunition, and provisions. After a 

 somewhat uninterestmg journey we arrived at Sale in due course, 

 and transferred ourselves and luggage to the s.s. Bargo, for 

 the Lakes journey. This proved a welcome change after the 

 monotony of the train travelling, and although the time (six 

 hours) occupied in the trip is long, still the scenery is rather 

 pretty after leaving Sale, the river being fringed with wattles and 

 other foliage, though the lakes are not quite so picturesque, 

 being chiefly fringed with ti-tree. About 9 p.m. we arrived at 

 Metung. Here we decided to make our first camp, having pre- 

 viously arranged for a boat to meet us, intending to cross the 

 lake and go into camp, but we were met by the Rev. G. Poyndcr, 

 who with kind forethought had obtained permission for us to 

 occupy the local school building, which we were glad to do, as 

 we should have had great difticulty in effecting a landing, owing 

 to the shallow water and the darkness. 



Wednesday, 2ND. — After breakfast we rowed across the lake 

 and made our way to what is locally known as the " back lake," 

 a very beautiful though small sheet of water in a basin. Flying 

 over the lake and towards us a large eagle was seen, and coming 

 within range, was fired at and wounded, yet it continued its flight 

 as if nothing unusual at all had taken place. Game of all kind 

 was scarce ; two pelicans were seen in a small creek quietly 

 feeding, tracks of wallaby visible here and there, insects nil. 

 Going through the scrub and tall rushes we were very much 

 troubled with the webs of spiders, which were spun chiefly by 

 two spiders, specimens of which are exhibited. On returning, 

 we made arrangements with the owner of a yacht to take us up 

 the River Tambo the next day. 



